Consumo de sustancias legales, ilegales y fármacos en adolescentes y factores de riesgo asociados a la exposición reciente

The study seeks to know the prevalence of exposure to legal, illegal substances and drugs; As well as the risk factors associated with recent exposure in teenagers enrolled in Ambato. We worked with a sample of 502 teenagers (56,6% males), between 14 and 20 years, from four schools (58% public) and domiciled in Ambato (76,5% from urban sector). It was found that coffee (78,9%) was the substance most consumed during the last month, followed by energizers (46,8%), alcohol (22,5%) and tobacco (15,7%). About exposure to dangerous legal substances, alcohol predominates, followed by tobacco and as for illegal substances is cannabis. Economic availability and private schools appear as risk factors in exposure to alcohol and tobacco; academic migration and predisposition favorable to consumption are risk factors for exposure to alcohol, tobacco and also illegal substances; Being a woman appears as a risk factor for the consumption of painkillers and sleeping pills. The implications of the findings are studied.